Biogipuzkoa and Farmaindustria promote a programme to awaken vocations, train in health research and attract talent among young people
More than 80 pupils from five schools learn about the process of getting medicines to patients: from R&D to clinical trials
The “Bringing science to schools” programme celebrates its second edition in San Sebastian.
Farmaindustria.es
More than 80 students from five schools in San Sebastian – Saint Patrick’s English School, Mundaiz Ikastetxea, Ekintza Ikastastola, La Anunciata Ikastetxea and Zubiri-Manteo BHI – took part this Friday in the Bringing science to schools initiative, a project with a twofold objective: to disseminate the value of biomedical research and to arouse interest among high school students.
Promoted by the Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute (IIS) and the National Business Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry (Farmaindustria), in this second edition the students were able to learn about the process necessary for a drug to reach the patient, from the detection of the molecule and research in the laboratory to the testing of the drug with patients in hospitals and its subsequent control and development.
As highlighted by the scientific director of IIS Biogipuzkoa, Itziar Vergara, ‘through this type of conference, students have the opportunity to learn about the scientific and regulatory process on which the development of new drugs is based, thus helping new generations to acquire the knowledge and tools necessary to protect themselves from fraud and pseudoscience, which are still present in the field of health’.
Along these lines, Farmaindustria’s Director of Clinical and Translational Research, Amelia Martín Uranga, stressed the value of research for a country and the opportunity it represents for people with a serious disease and their families: “A clinical trial is hope for patients, because it allows them to opt earlier for a treatment that could improve their health and quality of life. And it is also a huge act of generosity and solidarity, because even if the drug does not work for them, it can be a therapy for patients in the future.
Together with healthcare professionals, researchers, patients and the pharmaceutical industry, the students were able to understand that biomedical research is a long, complex and costly process, requiring between 10 and 12 years and an average investment of 2,400 million euros, with a very high risk: one out of every 10,000 molecules researched reaches the patient in the form of a new drug or vaccine.
Despite this great effort, Spain has managed to position itself as one of the world’s benchmark countries in clinical trials, as Isabel Chacón, from Farmaindustria’s Clinical and Translational Research Department, recalled. ‘Spain has positioned itself among the European countries with the best conditions for the development of clinical trials – it participates in 1 out of every 3 studies launched in Europe – and for many of the leading pharmaceutical companies it is the second country in the world chosen (after the US) to develop a trial,’ she said.
In this regard, Farmaindustria frequently receives enquiries from other countries asking how Spain has achieved this leading position, and the answer is both simple and complex: public-private collaboration. This working model is the main axis for the promotion of biomedical research in Spain and clinical trials are a true paradigm of the success of this cooperative model between health authorities, hospitals, research staff and health professionals, patients and pharmaceutical companies.
The students, who actively participated in the initiative by asking questions to the experts, were also able to get a closer look at the research process of future treatments in hospitals and learn first-hand about the role played by healthcare professionals in this process, through the knowledge of Julen Sarrionandia, Clinical Trial Assistant (CTA), and Aldo Gorosabel, from the Economic Management of Clinical Trials area, both from the Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute of Osakidetza.
These professionals have highlighted that the people involved have promoted, with special enthusiasm, this day with the aim of bringing science closer to young people. This initiative represents a valuable opportunity for them to discover, first-hand, the challenges and processes involved in clinical research, from its beginnings to the implementation of new treatments for the benefit of patients, with the ultimate goal of awakening their interest and encouraging their training in the fascinating world of clinical research.
Finally, Olaia Jandula, Clinical Trials nurse; Aurora Barbero, Clinical Trials coordinator; Izaskun Zeberio, principal investigator of Haematology Clinical Trials, and Jon Tuduri, patient of the Breselibet clinical trial (haematology area), shared their experience and daily work at IIS Biogipuzkoa and how promoting the participation of patients in clinical trials can transform lives.
“With this event we also intend to awaken vocations among you at an important moment in your training. We must remember that the R&D of a new medicine requires multidisciplinary teams from different areas of knowledge: medicine, nursing, pharmacy, biology, physics, mathematics, engineering… to respond to the unmet medical needs of patients. In this sense, industry and hospitals are good places to develop professionally”, stressed Martín Uranga.
Bringing science to schools is an initiative of Farmaindustria which, in collaboration with different hospitals and research centres, has held different editions over the last nine years in Madrid, Barcelona, Malaga, Cantabria and Gipuzkoa and has already trained more than 4,000 students from schools in these four provinces.
